TERRA NOVA, N.L. — An infestation of bats has the Town of Terra Nova looking for help to clean up its community centre.
The town discovered that the flying animals had taken up residence in the attic of the Eddie Eastman Hall sometime in August.
“Bats do a tremendous amount of damage,” said Terra Nova Mayor Mike Power.
The money will help offset the cost of that damage. The town recently started a GoFundMe fundraising effort to raise $60,000 to get the building professionally cleaned and replace any tiles or flooring that need it.
“It is still a very costly measure,” said Power.
To date, the town has raised $18,000 toward its goal, and hopes to get started on repairs as soon as possible, he said.
“It is an old building and we’re trying to keep it up,” said Power.
We Still need your help!
Posted by The Town of Terra Nova on Monday, December 7, 2020
The Eddie Eastman Hall has played many roles in the community since it was built about 80 years ago, and it continues to have a great deal of importance to the residents of the town.
It was built in 1942 and has hosted badminton tournaments, concerts, weddings, dances, kitchen parties, community sales and other events.
“Everything that happens in a small community, happens at the hall,” said Power.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the building hasn’t been used as much as it has in the past. The mayor figures it is part of the reason the town didn’t discover the bat infestation sooner.
Now, he is hoping what the town is currently going through can serve as a wake-up call for other towns that have similar buildings.
Power said many rural towns in Newfoundland and Labrador have a community centre that serves as a hub and they should be checked regularly.
“Get somebody to check the building,” he said.
Eddie Eastman grew up playing at the hall that bears his name. He started singing when he was nine years old in his parents' home, and advanced to performing at the local hall.
That led to a successful career in country music that saw him pick up a pair of Juno Awards in the 1980s for top male vocalist, and be inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
It all started at the hall in Terra Nova.
Now 71 and living in Nashville, Tenn., Eastman is trying to help his hometown with the cleanup and restoration effort at the local community centre.
Eastman pledged $1,000 to the town’s fundraising push.
“(The hall) means a lot to the people there,” he said. “Whatever happens goes on in that hall.”
Eastman was inducted into the Hall of Hame in 2010, and that year there was a reception held at the hall in Terra Nova.
He brought the hall of fame plaque with him and made sure to leave the original. There are other awards of his, either authentic or replicas, at the centre.
There are other pieces of the town’s history, as well.
If something were to happen to the hall, said Eastman, it would be a shame.
“It is very historical,” he said. “It’s been there a while.”
Nicholas Mercer is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering central Newfoundland for SaltWire Network.
